Online Tools:
IA Checklist
State the research question (RQ) clearly in the first paragraph or so (“what is the relationship between X and Y in [context]?”)
Describe the independent variable (IV), dependent variable (DV), and controlled parameters, including a description of how each will be measured/held constant?
“Solve the problem” using physics theory, resulting in a (sketched) prediction graph and a plan for linearization?
Describe how you decided the range and number of different values for the IV, and the number of trials?
A statement about safety, ethical, and/or environmental factors?
Have a procedure section that focuses on the decisions you made (rather than step-by-step directions)?
Have clear formatting, making it easy to read tables, equations, graphs, etc?
Use correct units, sig figs, decimal places, etc?
Include uncertainties all the way from the first measurements to the conclusion?
Include both a raw data graph (compare with your prediction graph) and a linearized graph? The linearized graph should have average, max, and min best-fit lines with annotations?
A conclusion that (a) states whether your final graph agrees with the theoretical prediction, and (b) compares the value of a parameter or constant determined from your linearized graph with a theoretical value?
Have citations for any physics theory that isn’t in the curriculum, and for a value used in 11(b) that isn’t in the data booklet?
Describe a variety of different weaknesses/biases to your methodology that are unique to your experiment and relevant to the results, and explain the effect that weakness/bias would have on the slope and value from 11(b)?
For each weakness from 13, describe a realistic, specific, improvement and explain the impact it would have on your slope and value from 11(b)?